The Walled Cities of Eretz Yisrael

by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach zt'l

The Megillah is read on the 14th of Adar in cities which were not walled
at the time when Joshua led the Jewish nation in conquest of Eretz Yisrael. In
cities which were surrounded by walls at that time, the Megillah is
read a day later, on the 15th of Adar.

In a city about which there is uncertainty as to whether it was walled
at that time or not, its inhabitants must read the Megillah on both the 14th
and 15th. This includes the ancient cities of Jaffa, Lod, Akko, Tsefas, Haifa,
Beersheva, Hebron, Shechem and Gaza, according to the "Luach Eretz
Yisrael" of Rabbi M. Tuchichinski. Feasting and gift giving are
also done on both days. The blessing on the Megillah reading is said only
on the 14th when most of the world reads the Megillah.

In Tiberias, too, the Megillah must be read on both days. But this is not
because there is any doubt that the city had walls in the time of Joshua.
A passage in Joshua 19 describes Rekes as a walled city, and we know that
Rekes is another name for Tiberias. What then is the question that arises
in regard to Tiberias?

Tiberias is located on the Sea of Galilee, also called the Kinneret. Thus,
it was protected from invaders by a combination of walls and the sea. If
we define a "walled city" literally, as one completely surrounded
by walls, then Tiberias does not qualify. But if we view "walled city" as
one protected from invasion, then Tiberias' combination of walls and sea
qualifies it as such.

This is why the Sage Chezkiyahu instituted in Tiberias the Megillah reading
on both days, a ruling cited in the Shulchan Aruch as a precedent for all
cities whose status is uncertain.

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